This page lists living orders and families of birds. The links below should then lead to family accounts and hence to individual species.
Taxonomy is very fluid in the age of DNA analysis, so comments are made where appropriate, and all numbers are approximate. In particular see Sibley-Ahlquist taxonomy for a very different classification.
Cladogram of modern bird relationships based on Jarvis, E.D. et al. (2014) with some clade names after Yury, T. et al. (2013).
The flightless and mostly giant Struthioniformes lack a keeled sternum and are collectively known as ratites. Together with the Tinamiformes, they form the Paleognathae or "old jaws", one of the two evolutionary superorders.
Africa; 2 species.
Struthionidae: ostrich
South America; 2 species.
Rheidae: rheas
South America; 45 species.
Tinamidae: tinamous
Casuariiformes
Australasia; 4 species.
Casuariidae: cassowaries
Dromaiidae: emu
Apterygiformes
Australasia; 5 species.
Apterygidae: kiwis
Nearly all living birds belong to the superorder of Neognathae or "new jaws". With their keels, unlike the ratites, they are known as carinatae. The passerines alone account for well over 5000 species. In total there are almost 8640 species of birds worldwide.
Worldwide; 150 species.
Anhimidae: screamers
Anseranatidae: magpie-goose
Anatidae: ducks, geese, and swans
Worldwide; 250 species.
Megapodidae: megapodes
Cracidae: chachalacas, curassows, and guans
Phasianoidea: pheasants and allies
Odontophoridae: New World quail
Numididae: guineafowl
Phasianidae: pheasants and relatives
Mirandornithes
Podicipediformes
Worldwide; 19 species
Podicipedidae: grebes
Phoenicopteriformes
Worldwide; 6 species.
Phoenicopteridae: flamingos
Columbimorphae
Columbiformes
Worldwide; 300 species.
Columbidae: pigeons and doves
Pteroclidiformes
Africa, Europe, Asia; 16 species
Pteroclididae: sandgrouse
Mesitornithiformes
Madagascar; 3 species
Mesitornithidae: mesites
Caprimulgiformes
Worldwide; 500 species.
Steatornithidae: oilbird
Podargidae: frogmouths
Nyctibiidae: potoos
Caprimulgidae: nightjars
Aegothelidae: owlet-nightjars
Trochilidae: hummingbirds
Apodidae: swifts
Hemiprocnidae: treeswifts
Otidimorphae
Cuculiformes
Worldwide; 126 species.
Cuculidae: cuckoos and relatives
Musophagiformes
Africa; 23 species.
Musophagidae: turacos and relatives
Otidiformes
Africa and Eurasia; 27 species
Otididae: bustards
Opisthocomiformes
South America; 1 species.
Opisthocomidae: hoatzin
Cursorimorphae
Gruiformes
Worldwide; 164 species.
Grui: cranes and allies
Gruidae: cranes
Aramidae: limpkin
Psophiidae: trumpeters
Ralli: rails and allies
Rallidae: rails and relatives
Sarothruridae flufftails
Heliornithidae: finfoots
Charadriiformes
Worldwide; 350 species
Scolopaci
Scolopacidae: sandpipers and relatives
Thinocori: jacana-like waders
Rostratulidae: painted snipes
Pluvianidae: Egyptian plover
Jacanidae: jacanas
Thinocoridae: seedsnipes
Pedionomidae: plains-wanderer
Turnici
Turnicidae: buttonquail
Lari: gulls and allies
Laridae: gulls
Rhynchopidae: skimmers
Sternidae: terns
Alcidae: auks and puffins
Stercorariidae: skuas and jaegers
Glareolidae: coursers and pratincoles
Dromadidae: crab-plover
Chionidi: thick-knees and allies
Burhinidae: thick-knees and relatives
Chionididae: sheathbills
Pluvianellidae: Magellanic plover
Charadrii: plover-like waders
Ibidorhynchidae: ibisbill
Recurvirostridae: avocets and stilts
Haematopodidae: oystercatchers
Charadriidae: plovers and lapwings
Neotropics and New Caledonia; 2 species.
Rhynochetidae: kagu
Eurypygidae: sunbittern
Oceanic; 3 species.
Phaethontidae: tropicbirds
North America, Eurasia; 5 species.
Gaviidae: loons
Antarctic and southern waters; 17 species.
Spheniscidae: penguins
Pan-oceanic; 120 species.
Diomedeidae: albatrosses
Procellariidae: petrels and relatives
Pelecanoididae: diving petrels
Hydrobatidae: storm petrels
Worldwide; 19 species.
Ciconiidae: storks
Worldwide; 108 species.
Balaenicipitidae: shoebill
Scopidae: hamerkop
Pelecanidae: pelicans
Ardeidae: herons and relatives
Threskiornithidae: ibises and spoonbills
Worldwide; 59 species.
Phalacrocoracidae: cormorants and shags
Fregatidae: frigatebirds
Sulidae: boobies and gannets
Anhingidae: darters
Worldwide; 200 species.
Cathartidae: New World vultures
Pandionidae: osprey
Accipitridae: hawks, eagles, buzzards, harriers, kites and Old World vultures
Sagittaridae: secretarybird
Worldwide; 130 species.
Tytonidae: barn owls
Strigidae: true owls
Sub-Saharan Africa; 6 species.
Coliidae: mousebirds
Sub-Saharan Africa, Americas, Asia; 35 species.
Trogonidae: trogons and quetzals
Worldwide; 144 species.
Meropidae: bee-eaters
Coraciidae: rollers
Brachypteraciidae: ground rollers
Todidae: todies
Momotidae: motmots
Alcedines: kingfishers
Alcedinidae: river kingfishers
Halcyonidae: tree kingfishers
Cerylidae: water kingfishers
Old World, New Guinea; 64 species.
Bucerotidae: hornbills
Upupidae: hoopoe
Phoeniculidae: woodhoopoes
Madagascar; 1 species.
Leptosomatidae: cuckoo-roller
Worldwide except Australasia; 400 species.
Galbulidae: jacamars
Bucconidae: puffbirds
Lybiidae: African barbets
Megalaimidae: Asian barbets
Ramphastidae: toucans
Semnornithidae: toucan barbets
Capitonidae: American barbets
Picidae: woodpeckers
Indicatoridae: honeyguides
South America; 2 species.
Cariamidae: seriemas
Worldwide; 60 species.
Falconidae: falcons and relatives
Pan-tropical, southern temperate zones; 330 species.
Nestoridae: kea and kakas
Strigopidae: kakapo
Cacatuidae: cockatoos
Psittacidae: African and American parrots
Psittrichasiidae: Pesquet's parrot, vasa parrots
Psittaculidae: Australasian parrots
Worldwide; 5000 species.
Acanthisitti
Acanthisittidae: New Zealand wrens
Tyranni: suboscines
Eurylaimidae: broadbills
Philepittidae: asities
Pittidae: pittas
Sapayoidae: sapayoa
Tyrannidae: tyrant flycatchers
Tityridae: becards and tityras
Furnariidae: ovenbirds
Thamnophilidae: antbirds
Formicariidae: ground antbirds
Rhinocryptidae tapaculos
Grallariidae: antpittas
Conopophagidae: gnateaters
Cotingidae: cotingas
Pipridae: manakins
Melanopareiidae: crescent-chests
Passeri: oscines
Atrichornithidae: scrub-birds
Menuridae: lyrebirds
Alaudidae: larks
Hirundinidae: swallows and martins
Motacillidae: wagtails and pipits
Campephagidae: cuckoo-shrikes
Eupetidae: rail-babbler
Pycnonotidae: bulbuls
Regulidae: kinglets
Hyliotidae: hyliotas
Chloropseidae: leafbirds
Aegithinidae: ioras
Ptiliogonatidae: silky-flycatchers
Bombycillidae: waxwings
Hypocoliidae: hypocolius
Dulidae: palmchat
Cinclidae: dippers
Troglodytidae: wrens
Donacobiidae: donacobius
Mimidae: mockingbirds and thrashers
Prunellidae: accentors
Turdidae: thrushes and relatives
Cisticolidae: cisticolas and relatives
Sylviidae: true warblers
Stenostiridae: fairy warblers
Macrosphenidae: African warblers
Cettiidae: bush warblers
Phylloscopidae: leaf warblers
Megaluridae: grass warblers
Acrocephalidae: marsh warblers
Bernieridae: Malagasy warblers
Pnoepygidae: pygmy wren-babblers
Polioptilidae: gnatcatchers
Muscicapidae: flycatchers and relatives
Platysteiridae: wattle-eyes and batises
Petroicidae: Australasian robins
Pachycephalidae: whistlers and relatives
Colluricinclidae: shrike-thrushes and relatives
Picathartidae: rockfowl
Chaetopidae: rock-jumpers
Timaliidae: babblers and relatives
Panuridae: bearded reedling
Nicatoridae: nicators
Pomatostomidae: Australasian babblers
Orthonychidae: logrunners
Cinclosomatidae: whipbirds and quail-thrushes
Aegithalidae: bushtits
Maluridae: Australasian wrens
Neosittidae: sittellas
Climacteridae: Australasian treecreepers
Paridae: chickadees and true tits
Sittidae: nuthatches
Tichodromidae: wallcreeper
Certhiidae: treecreepers
Rhabdornithidae: Philippine creepers
Remizidae: penduline tits
Nectariniidae: sunbirds
Melanocharitidae: berrypeckers
Paramythiidae: painted berrypeckers
Dicaeidae: flowerpeckers
Dasyornithidae: bristlebirds
Pardalotidae: pardalotes
Acanthizidae: Australasian warblers
Zosteropidae: white-eyes
Promeropidae: sugarbirds
Meliphagidae: honeyeaters and relatives
Notiomystidae: stitchbird
Oriolidae: Old World orioles
Irenidae: fairy-bluebirds
Laniidae: shrikes
Malaconotidae: bushshrikes and relatives
Prionopidae: helmetshrikes and relatives
Vangidae: vangas
Dicruridae: drongos
Rhipiduridae: fantails
Monarchidae: monarch flycatchers
Callaeidae: wattlebirds
Corcoracidae: mudnesters
Artamidae: woodswallows and butcherbirds
Pityriaseidae: bristlehead
Paradisaeidae: birds-of-paradise
Cnemophilidae: satinbirds
Ptilonorhynchidae: bowerbirds
Corvidae: jays and crows
Sturnidae: starlings and mynas
Buphagidae: oxpeckers
Passeridae: Old World sparrows
Ploceidae: weavers and relatives
Estrildidae: weaver finches
Viduidae: whydahs and indigobirds
Vireonidae: vireos and relatives
Fringillidae: finches and relatives
Urocynchramidae: pink-tailed bunting
Peucedramidae: olive warbler
Parulidae: wood warblers
Coerebidae: bananaquit
Thraupidae: tanagers and relatives
Emberizidae: Old World buntings and New World sparrows
Cardinalidae: cardinals, grosbeaks, and New World buntings
Icteridae: New World blackbirds and New World orioles
Struthioniformes, ostriches, emus, kiwis and allies
Tinamiformes, tinamous
Anseriformes, waterfowl
Galliformes, fowl
Charadriiformes, waders, gulls, and auks
Gaviiformes, loons
Podicipediformes, grebes
Procellariformes, albatrosses, petrels, and allies
Sphenisciformes, penguins
Pelecaniformes, pelicans and allies
Phaethontiformes, tropicbirds
Ciconiiformes, storks and allies
Phoenicopteriformes, flamingos
Falconiformes, hawks, falcons, old world vultures, and allies
Gruiformes, cranes and allies
Pteroclidiformes, sandgrouse
Columbiformes, pigeons and doves
Psittaciformes, parrots
Cuculiformes, cuckoos and allies
Opisthocomiformes, hoatzin
Strigiformes, owls
Caprimulgiformes, nightjars, frogmouths, and allies
Apodiformes, swifts and hummingbirds
Coraciiformes, kingfishers and allies
Piciformes, woodpeckers and allies
Trogoniformes, trogons
Coliiformes, mousebirds
Passeriformes, passerines
